Lifejacket Prjoject

RefugArt 2016

Passion, Enthusiasm, determination

After a visit from a volunteer worker at a refugee camp, a group of ASB students were inspired to get involved with the refugee crisis and direct their efforts towards helping larger communities. A number of ideas were brainstormed, including runs and auctions to raise money. The main outcome was the Lifejacket Project, a collaboration with other European international schools in which lifejackets were imported from the Greek island of Lesvos and artistically decorated to create an exhibition. The entire student body was creatively involved in making the hopeful project a reality. If there is one lesson that was learnt, it is that passion, enthusiasm and determination can go a very

Featured works

THE MULTI USE

Voting For Human Rights

Boat

HUMAN CAGE

Flower Power Louder

Global help

Created by Rylan A., Gaby A., Emma H., Antonio O., and Mathieu R.

We used the flag pictures to show people that all countries try helping refugees and do their best to help them. It is also to show how many refugees we have in our world and how we should show empathy to them. This project inspired us to help more and more refugees.It makes us feel and see the luck we have in helping refugees. We shouldn't whine for a toy because some people don’t even have enough to buy a toy. We all opened our eyes to a new world, a world of empathy for refugees. You have to help people who aren’t born like us.Open your eyes and help the world!

THE MULTI USE

Created by Giada D., Kasper L., Maria M., Ina N., and Albert S.

This life jacket represents hope in the journey of the refugees.

Voting For Human Rights

Created by Amit C., Marcel K., Nikola R., and Carl V.

Inspiration:To make people cheer for human rights

In the life jacket we had written, “You have to understand that no one puts their child in a boat unless the water is safer than the land.” This shows the story of how they travel, they didn't WANT to go in the water. They had to!

We think that the colors we chose (gold, silver) might show human rights. Gold is the color of money, GOLD. Well, the people that were wearing those life jackets need money. They need equality.

We basically used scissors, tape, and gold & silver markers.

To make people support and cheer for Human Rights.What have I learned about refugees, helping others, or global awareness through the process of creating this piece?We have learned that even poor people, have a lot of similarities to me, and other people.

We have realized that the people have come to these boats because the had no choice. The water was safer than the land.

We have always thought that we were really lucky, and to have a family, a home, money. And that the other people weren't lucky at all. But now I realize that they are pretty lucky to have survived in the boat.

BOAT

Artists: Annelie Ruther and Andrea Alvarez

This sculpture is set as a dilapidated boat to represent the living conditions some refugees live in. The colors represent the difference between first class (orange) and third class (blue). The black fabric connects both worlds together. We chose to construct a boat because of the saying "we are all in the same boat", yet it does not seem that way in real life.

Size: 30 X 78 X 10 inches

Medium: Life jacket materials and tape.

HUMAN CAGE.

HUMAN CAGE.

When simply our very human condition… Your place of birth, the God you worship, the language you speak, … are already a reason for confinement:

WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM!

The path of getting free from it starts in every each one of our hearts. Starts in getting rid of our fears of losing “what we already have”...

WHAT HAVE WE GOT IF WE ARE NOT EVEN HUMAN?

Santi Bragulat

Materials: Foam and Metal Rods on a Mannequin

Flower Power Louder

For our life jacket, we chose to contrast flowers, an international symbol of peace, with a bloodstain, which immediately brings to mind violence. Some refugees are not even able to enjoy the comforts we think nothing of, such as readily available food and water. We chose to use fake flowers not only for the longevity of the flowers, but also to hint at our idea of peace being a fragile and fake one, for we are not all at peace. Our use of paint for the bloodstain was in part due to the idea of sometimes “painting over” what we refuse to accept. Though we may be aware of the ongoing struggles of the Refugees, sometimes we choose to simply ignore, or even cover up, these very real, very inconvenient to us, very shocking truths. We also chose to include butterflies flying towards the flowers in order to represent how we would rather choose the fake truth rather than face the disturbing truth. Our chosen picture, one of Vietnam War Protests, remains emblematic today.

We are all guilty, none is innocent. To ignore is to condemn, to act is to take a stance and proclaim “You are not alone. We are here, we can, and will help, as humans, regardless of our differences, because you are in need.” We realized that we were at the age where we could choose to either ignore, or to take part in this struggle. We could make a contribution. We could help. We could say to them, “You are not alone.” We could have an impact. Improve a situation. Though we can only speak for ourselves, we can say, without doubt, that we feel we now understand, even if it is only marginally, the refugees better. By placing oneself in their shoes through one’s imagination, one can reach a better understanding of the refugees and their struggles. For to ignore one in need is a greater evil than most we know of. To refuse to act when pleaded is not what we are taught. To ignore, is to condemn.

Pain Fought by Hope

My art piece is centered in the pain and suffering of the refuges. I chose to symbolize this with the color black as a way to depict the darkness and obscurity of the situation. However I spread the color in an unorganized manner to also express the chaotic and tumultuous circumstances. I also opted to add a touch of blue to illustrate their arduous travel through sea. All these colors and techniques merge to embody the agony and adversity in the lives of the refugees. Apart from that I decided to add the word hope to include how the refugees battle through their complicated situation. They fight with hope for a better life for themselves and their loved ones. That demonstrates their courage and their strong will to fight for a better future and a safer life, far from a war zone. That flourishes a sentiment of melancholy and inspiration in me, which led me to do this project. With my contribution to this project I wish to not only raise awareness, but also to contribute my vision to this yet unsolved problem with the desire to inspire more involvement of people on this dispute.

Created by Ivan Kartashov and Max Lagner the aspiring heroes of the internet who seek to unplug from life and get some sleep

Save our souls

by Achilleas Souras

“I've always felt strongly about the issue of homelessness and I saw the refugees as permanently displaced people devoid of a home,” says London-born, Barcelona-based Souras, who is studying for his international baccalauréat. “I instinctively wanted to provide them with that, whilst utilizing objects that were considered waste.”

After watching the distressing news reports about the plight of the refugees, Souras wrote to the mayor of Lesbos in 2016 and asked for some of the used life jackets to be sent to him. In his free time, he built a framework for his first igloo and assembled it after sewing 52 life jackets together. “As I am partially Greek, I was more aware of the issue as it was developing in Greece, with Lesbos especially receiving high numbers of refugees and needing to be very actively involved in their hosting,” he explains. - Damnmagazine

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